John's daughter Mary Kitchen, John Pollard, and his granddaughter
Pollard was Passin’ with Passion
by Cate Murway
“Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.” H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Our perceived view of history can be unbelievably narrow. When an opportunity to record an accomplishment like this one is presented, it is a salient reminder to sincerely consider those who have tread before, and continue building upon foot falls they have left behind.
The Bristol High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee recently announced a new crop of former student-athletes selected for induction into the BHS Athletic Hall of Fame. The Class of 2015 inductees included Margaret Adams Walsh, Larry Cohen, Michael Kervick, Jerome Mead, Dominick Petrino, John Pindar, Maryann Taylor Morris, the 1953 State Champion 880 relay team and Joyce Frake (Hall of Fame Honor Roll).
The Hall of Fame induction took place on Thanksgiving Day during half time of the football game at Bristol High School with a breakfast to honor the inductees in the Bristol High School Cafeteria.
A check of the records has shown remarkable feats of these tracksters developed by Coach Anthony “Chic” D’Angelo. They went undefeated for an entire season. The team, comprised of Larry Cohen, John Pollard, Dominick Sottile and Roland “Mickey” Davis won the Bethlehem Relay, Bridgeton Relays, Lower Bucks Relay [breaking the record], and the PIAA District 1 Relay.
The quartet of incredible athletes donned in grey uniforms with red lettering had a great leader to chart their course.
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"Bristol’s crack relay teams and individuals came feared at the Bethlehem Relays held at Liberty High School. The Bristol trackmen went home with 12 gold medals and four large trophies for winning. Coach D’Angelo's relay team was at its best as it ran the event one second faster than it did to win the Bridgeton relays. Besides individual gold medals, the team was awarded the Sawyer Trophy. The 440-relay team was composed of Cohen, Sidney Taylor, Dominick Sottile and Davis. They were also awarded gold medals and the team Pop Kniery Trophy.
Davis was the only runner to receive three gold medals.
In ’53, Davis, Sottile, Pollard and Sid pulled the stunt “Hound Dog” [a great tracker, a working dog].”
May 4, 1953 in ‘The Bristol Daily Courier’
AF Staff Sgt. John Patrick Pollard, BHS ’53 was the sixth of fourteen children born to Junius Allen and Anna Mary Pollard. He still resides in Bristol Township. He was a member of the “last class of Township students to graduate from Bristol High. We were treated differently. We were township kids.”
The [Joseph E.] Delhaas High School opened in 1953. The 12th and final commencement for the Class of 1965, comprising of 343 seniors, terminated two graduating locations in the township.
Delhaas merged with Woodrow Wilson HS.
John married Lila Mae [Fredrick] July 20th 1955 and they had nine children, four sons and 5 daughters who have blessed them with 35 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren. Their daughter, cross country athlete Darlene Lila is Snyder-Girotti teacher, LaToya Sahm, M.ED’s mother. LaToya’s father Floyd and his twin brother Lloyd Wood were impressive athletes in the BHS class of ’81. “I feel blessed to have my grandparents.”
LaToya was excited to have her Pop-Pop recognized for his athletic prowess.
The 24’ long jumper on the all male track & field team was also the BHS school photographer who still remembers using the school’s Graflex Pacemaker Crown Graphic press camera. Athletics were not John’s only forte.
“I was the best ‘Lit’ student, but I was ‘THE’ history guy in my class.” He recalls Mrs. Margaret Gontar as his teacher who had also taught his siblings. One of Marty Green’s daughters, Connie Green was his classmate.
John was assigned to 12A. “Academic, industrial boys could wear jeans; we wore pants.”
At the graduation ceremonies in the Grand Theater, Principal David L. Hertzler informed them that 1953 was the first time there were State Champions graduating in the class.
The District 1 competitions were held in Franklin Field and States were hosted at State College.
Bristol Borough memories included “catching the bus to go to the Bristol Theatre for Saturday matinees”. No television yet, so he listened to baseball games on the radio.
The nickname, “Whiz Kids” was given to the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball when they won the National League pennant. John recalls names of the key players, like “Robin Roberts, Willie Jones on third base, and Granville Wilbur “Granny” Hamner”.
They “hung out at a little restaurant next to the Grand Theatre with the pin-ball machine.”
JR Field’s lemon ice cream was a favorite dessert. He and his friends ice skated on the canal and fished for chain pickerels, aggressive fighters once hooked, making them an exciting catch.
John Pollard was the very accomplished second leg of that dominating 880 State Champion relay team in 1953. “Gotta have the fast guy in second,” was the rule from Coach Chic.
The late Larry Cohen, BHS ’54 was the relay’s leadoff runner. He was also the 100 yard State Champ, and had won the Lower Bucks 100 yard and 200 yard dashes, breaking the record in the 100 with a time of 9.92 which still stands today.
Third leg, basketball/ football/ baseball athlete and Class VP, Army Pvt. Dominick John “Sonny” Sottile, BHS ’54 passed the baton to the anchor, the late Lt. Roland M. “Mickey” Davis, track star athlete and an outstanding student who was killed when the MG sports car in which he was riding went out of a control on a curve, 18 miles from Minot, N.D.
He was only 24.
Sonny’s big brother, James Marvin Sottile, Sr., BHS ’49, an inaugural member of BHS class of 1988 Hall of Fame, proudly shared, “He was an aggressive individual and always gave 100%!”
Sonny Sottile was named “Most Athletic” in the BHS yearbook. He remembers the foursome being very close friends. His Pop called them the “League of Nations”.
“We ran against the best teams from Yeadon, Radnor and Coatesville. No starting blocks. We just made a hole in the dirt and practiced. Our spikes were like a nail running through the bottom of the shoe.”
Their track records stand. The athletes are proud of, but remain humble about their accomplishments. Life goes on.
About two decades ago, John’s late wife started hosting family dinners at their home every Sunday. He continues her tradition.
“He cooks anything. He’s the best!” added his granddaughter, LaToya.
No FAST food for this athlete and his family. Good “homemade Southern” cooking always.
Recommend a “Spotlight”. E-mail vjmrun@yahoo.com
It is with great sadness that the Pollard Family announces the loss of their patriarch, John Patrick Pollard Sr., affectionately known as "Pat" and "Pop-pop," on Saturday, July 18, 2020, in Bristol.
Heaven welcomes home the husband of Lila M. Pollard, father of Mary Pollard-Kitchens and George Pollard, son of Junius Allen and Anna Mary Pollard, and brother of Ann, William, Dorothy, Walter, Ruth, George, Thelma, Frank, Shirley and Branch, all of which preceded him in death.
John served in the United States Air Force and worked several jobs as an electrician over the years, and finally retired from the 3M Corporation in 2001 after 17 years of service.
Our devoted father leaves to cherish his memory: daughters, Katherine Pollard, Darlene Wood and Debra Kitchens (Anthony) of Levittown, and Brenda Pollard of Philadelphia, and sons, John Pollard Jr. (Katie) of Texas, Glenn Pollard (Tameka) of New Jersey and Scott Pollard of Levittown. He is also survived by his sisters, Naomi Cleveland and Carol Evans, and brother Robert Pollard and sister-in-law, Beatrice Pollard. He was the proud grandfather of 33 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren, and is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, church family and friends.
Friends and family are invited to join the Pollard family in a Christian home going celebration from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 25, at House of Prayer, 5628 Fleetwing Dr., Levittown PA, 19057, where his funeral service and interment will immediately follow. Molden Funeral Chapel & Cremation Service, Bristol
"John Patrick Pollard aka JPP aka Poppop...it’s funny because I always said I never really knew him until I started going to flea market with him. The Saturday after my nanny, his wife, passed away in June 2012 we started going to flea market. My initial visit was just to accompany him to tell “his people” that Nanny had gone to Heaven. This manifested into a 7 year run that ended in December 2019 before he fell ill. Ironically, our last visit was December 22, 2019 when he had to tell “his people” that his daughter passed.
I’m so grateful for the time that we spent together and the advice he gave. I attribute marrying Kevin based on some really good advice that he gave me. “Whoever you decide to be with, make sure it’s the guy that never lets a day go by without contacting you. A man that deserves you wouldn’t let a day go by without trying to hear from you.” Kevin was that guy (thank you Poppop).
I’m going to miss many things about you. I’m going to miss your advice, your listening ear, your laugh, and your jokes. But most of all, I will miss that you are not just a phone call away. Despite missing you, I’m glad you are at peace and with the people you have missed so long especially Nanny. I love you. Rest In Peace, Poppop." LaToya Wood Sahm
